The trip to Texas was the most high-profile public appearance Melania Trump had made since undergoing a surgical procedure for a kidney condition on May 14. She carefully selected a Chanel gown to wear when the Trump's hosted their first state dinner with France's First Couple.

Melania Trump's visit also came barely an hour before divided USA lawmakers were to begin voting on a pair of immigration bills in the House of Representatives, including one that directly addresses the family separation issue.

"I would also like to ask you how I can help these children to reunite with their families as quickly as possible". She visited the Upbring New Hope Children's Center there.

Republican U.S. Representatives Ralph Norman and Mark Meadows, prominent members of the conservative Freedom Caucus, told reporters they did not think either of the bills had enough support to pass the Republican-controlled House.

Children at the facility welcomed Trump with a large paper American flag they'd signed.

Trump, who recently started Be Best, a platform centered on the betterment of children's lives, asked her aides to organize the trip after seeing photographs and video of separated families, and hearing audio of children crying in the centers, Grisham said.

"This was 100% her idea", said Grisham of Trump's decision to travel to McAllen, making clear the first lady is not on a mission assigned by the President nor is she acting as his emissary. She was on top of the situation before any of that came out.

The first lady herself called for political compromise to end the stripping of children from their parents - the result of the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policy against illegal border crossings, in effect since May.